If you want to maintain a healthy
lifestyle, changing one or two aspects such as exercise or diet alone
will not be sufficient. The key to a healthier life is to adjust your
lifestyle to the extent that all aspects are in sync with each other.
Diet
A
healthy diet is obviously an important factor. The best way to start is
to simplify your diet, this means instead of focusing on calorie
counting, reduce the size of your portions at each meal. Cut down on
fats and carbohydrates. Make sure you are getting enough fresh fruit and
vegetables daily. Reduce your intake of soda and caffeine. You will
soon start to notice that you feel healthier and have more energy.
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Exercise
Exercise
is probably the second most important aspect to change. Exercise has a
number of benefits including improving your mood, reducing chronic
health problems, maintaining a healthy weight and boosting your energy.
Stress
Reducing
your stress levels is key to a healthier lifestyle. You can cut down
stress by recognizing the cause of your stress, changing your habits and
not making excuses for maintaining high stress levels. Practices such
as yoga, tai chi and qigong are great ways to help you control stress.
Sleep
Regular
sleep is much more important for your health than many people realize.
If you are not getting enough sleep you will feel irritable, find it
difficult to concentrate, be more prone to illness and feel fatigued and
lacking energy all the time.
Substance Use
If
you are a smoker or consume alcohol on a regular basis, you are already
reducing your chances of a healthy lifestyle. Smoking increases your
risk of a number of diseases such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes.
Drinking depletes your immune system and can cause liver damage. Talk
to your doctor about improving your lifestyle by reducing your alcohol
intake and quitting smoking.
Prevention
Preventative
health measures are one of the best ways to ensure that you do not
succumb to serious illness. Preventative health care such as regular
screening, reduction of risk factors and maintaining a healthy lifestyle
can reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and high
cholesterol.
Socializing
Social
activities are an important part of a healthy lifestyle. All work and
no play doesn't only make you dull, it increases your stress levels and
can lead to depression. Recreation time is good for stress and can
improve energy levels, as well as helping balance emotions and build
strong connections between friends and relatives.
Time Out
Take
time out. Whether it's a ten minute break during your work day, a few
hours during a busy family weekend to put your feet up or a relaxing
vacation to get away from it all, everybody needs time out. Allowing
yourself some time to put work and other stressors such as money on the
back burner and to pamper yourself it reenergizing and good for you
overall health
Relationships
Healthy
personal relationships are vital to good health, whether its your
partner, family members of close friends. Everyone needs someone to turn
to sometimes and just knowing that you have a network of supportive
loved ones around you can help keep you emotionally strong.
Positive Thinking
Self
acceptance as an important factor for a healthy lifestyle. This means
thinking positively about yourself and accepting yourself for who you
are, warts and all. Maintaining a positive self image helps boost your
confidence, prevent depression and reduce stress.
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